As always the questions were interesting
Would anyone who went like to give us who didn't a brief run down of the answers to the questions at the AGM or add any other info mentioned
Questions asked: (from RFC twitter)
How can people enter the Operation 10k contest? How are we going to look outside our members to reduce debt?
These were actually questions from 2 different people and 2 different times
First one:
OP 10K - an elderly lady queried how come she didn't have a chance at winning a table for 10 at the Pres function because she'd paid her membership upfront and not on the payment plan and she said it was in the HUN (I think it was Monday's paper) that go on the payment for chance to win a table for 10 . Now clearly I read that article different to her because I didn't have a clue what she was on about
Anyway Benny Gale explained how the Op 10 thing worked and table for 10 was one of the prizes for that etc.
the Debt question: the bloke who asked this got narky about the Club going to the members again for money and wanted to know if the club intended to do go to anyone else about the debt. Gary reiterated (calmly) AGAIN that the plan would be launched in Feb by Benny and that it wasn't just about getting rid of the debt but establishing a long term "fighting fund" and yes the club would be approaching other parties other than the members. My answer would have been if you don't want to contirbute you don't have to
The bloke then had a crack about of result saying that it wasn't as good as the club was making out because if you took out the interest rec'd from the money invested (waiting to be used on the development) then we only made an op profit of $350k and as result how could the board be pleased with that because it is only a "pitance". Gary rightly pointed out that
7 clubs had made op losses this year including 2 who finished in the top 8 (he named Carlton as one of those). March then backed Benny & Michael Stahl (COO) as having done a fantastic job for a club that finished 15th
Board being asked about interstate home games. Complimenting us on our social media. Asking about RFC pubs/clubs
Were we ever involved in Hobart discussions? What is being done for VIC members wanting to attend Darwin/Cairns home games?
Interstate games: Expalined again why we've done it. Not a long term thing. Once the debt is gone we will not continue with it, hence why the agreements are only for a couple of years. Club still negotiating on which games will be the "compo" away games in 2011 but both are likely to be at the MCG. Was asked if the club would be offering packages to members who wanted to travel - they said maybe but at the moment the focus was finalising the compo games
Social Media someone congratulated the club on RFC official being on a couple of the forums. Personally I think it is wrong that they are only go on 2 of the forums - you either do all or none, you shouldn't favour or discriminate but hey as I said a personal opinion and something I've discussed with the Club.
Back to social media Gary said it had become a major focus of the club as a way they can comminucate with the members supporters more. They are planning more chats in the future - Gary, Benny and Dimma are likely in 2011
Hobart Games: strange question asked probably 10 minutes after they had gone through the Cairns/Darwin. Any way the question was why did the board give Benny a mandate to talk to Hobart and how serious was it and is it now dead and buried? Only mandate Benny had was to have discussions not sign a deal. Discussions were preliminary only to see what was on offer. We only ever interested in playing 2 games down there. When North stuck their noses in and were offering to play 4 - it became a non issue and is now dead an buried - no games in hobart
Pubs and CLubs Royal Oak - club is still be running by the RFC as the Blues having trouble with getting their permits to take over. Until they do we continue to run it and profit from it
Wantirna: just won a VCAT hearing to allow more pokies to be added. Further 10 machines will be added in the new year with the hope that will improve its profitability.
Anymore questions let me know